Today in History

The House Judiciary Committee begins formal hearings on Nixon impeachment.

A laser beam is successfully bounced off the moon for the first time.

King Victor Emmanuel II of Italy abdicates his throne and is replaced by Umberto I.

The German submarine U-110 is captured at sea along with its Enigma machine by the Royal Navy.

Albert Finney, British actor (Murder on the Orient Express, Tom Jones).

Alan Bennett, British playwright and screenwriter (The Madness of King George III).

Explorers Richard Byrd and Floyd Bennett make the first flight over the North Pole.

Mona van Duyn, American poet laureate.

German and French forces fight the Battle of Artois.

Eleanor Estes, children’s author.

Henry J. Kaiser, shipbuilder.

Howard Carter, British archaeologist.

Union General John Sedgwick is shot and killed by a Confederate sharpshooter during fighting at Spotsylvania. His last words are: “They couldn’t hit an elephant at this dist–“

James Mathew Barrie, writer (Peter Pan, The Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up).

Threatened by the advancing French army, the Austrian army retreats across the River Sesia in Italy.

Belle Boyd, Confederate spy.

U.S. troops under William Henry Harrison take Fort Meigs from British and Canadian troops.

John Brown, abolitionist.

The first newspaper cartoon in America appears.

Christopher Columbus leaves Spain on his final trip to the New World.